Author

by Kim Piper Werker

Introduction

Amigurumi means “knitted or crocheted doll” in Japanese. They're the simplest of simple, worked in the round in single crochet. I don't even join my rounds, preferring to work in a spiral. The thing I love most about amigurumi is that their interest lies entirely in your imagination. There's no clever design detail to woo your keen eye. No lovely stitch pattern to make you go “ah.” Just rounds of single crochet. The fun comes in the shapes you make, the colours you pick, and the embellishments you add on after the fact.

To illustrate, check out the banner photo up there. Each Crochet me designer used the exact same pattern. So, my point has been made, no? We can't wait to see what you'll create. Share photos of your own Amigurumi Dudes on the Flickr group.

Edited to add: Use common sense when making toys for young kids.

Materials List

Yarn and a complementary hook

Polyfil for stuffing

Beans (optional, for weighing down legless dudes)

Yarn needle for finishing

Embroidery needle (optional, for fitting through small holes in eyes and/or buttons)

Embellishments, as desired

Finished Size

Variable. This pattern calls for a pretty enormous head. Mine (the purple dude with the headband) was worked in Lion Brand Chunky yarn with a 5.0mm hook, and the head measures 4" in diameter and a whopping 14" in circumference. (This is the same size as an infant's head.) Adjust yarn weight and hook size according to your whim.

Gauge

The Pattern

Head

Start with an adjustable loop.Round 1: Work 6 sc into loop (join or do not join -- it's your call); tighten the loop.

Round 2: Increase 6 times by working 2 sc in each stitch around – 12 sc.

Round 3: Again, increase 6 times evenly by working *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st.* Repeat from * to * around – 18 sc.

Continue to increase 6 times evenly in each round so that your total number of stitches is:

Round 4: 24 sc

Round 5: 30 sc

Round 6: 36 sc

Round 7: 42 scRound 8: 48 sc

Round 9: 54 sc

Stop increasing, and work as follows:

Rounds 10-13: Sc in each stitch around – 54 sc.

Round 14: Decrease 6 times evenly, a follows: *Work 2 sc together, sc in each of the next 7 sts.* Repeat from * to * around – 48 sc.

Continue to decrease 6 times evenly in each round so your total number of stitches is:

Round 15: 42 sc

Round 16: 36 sc

Round 17: 30 sc

Round 18: 24 sc

Round 19: 18 sc

Sl st in next stitch; fasten off, leaving a 12" tail.

Body

Start with an adjustable loop.

Round 1: Work 6 sc into loop (join or do not join -- it's your call); tighten the loop.

Round 2: Work 2 sc in each stitch around – 12 sc.

Continue to increase 6 times evenly in each round so that your total number of stitches is:

Round 3: 18 sc

Round 4: 24 sc

Round 5: 30 scRounds 6-14: Sc in each stitch around – 30 sc.Round 15: Decrease 6 times evenly, as follows: *Work 2 sc together, sc in each of the next 3 sts.* Repeat from * to * around – 24 sc.

Rounds 16-17: Sc in each stitch around - 24 sc.

Round 18: Decrease 6 times evenly, as follows: *Work 2 sc together, sc in each of the next 2 sts.* Repeat from * to * around - 18 sc.

Sl st in next stitch; fasten off.

Legs (make 2)

Start with an adjustable loop.

Round 1: Work 6 sc into loop; tighten the loop.

Round 2: Work 2 sc in each stitch around - 12 sc.

Round 3: Increase 4 times evenly, as follows: *Sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st.* Repeat from * to * around - 16 sc.

Rounds 4-12: Sc in each stitch around - 16 sc.

Round 13: Decrease 4 times evenly, as follows: *Work 2 sc together, sc in each of the next 2 sts.* Repeat from * to * around - 12 sc.

Sl st in next stitch; fasten off, leaving a 10" tail.

Arms (make 2)

Start with an adjustable loop

Round 1: Work 6 sc into loop; tighten the loop.

Round 2: Work 2 sc in each stitch around - 12 sc.

Round 3: Increase 4 times evenly, as follows: *Sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st.* Repeat from * to * around - 16 sc.

Rounds 4-10: Sc in each stitch around - 16 sc

Round 11: Decrease 4 times evenly, as follows: *Work 2 sc together, sc in each of the next 2 sts.* Repeat from * to * around - 12 sc.

Sl st in next stitch; fasten off, leaving a 10 " tail.

Finishing

Using Polyfil, stuff each piece. When you think you're done, stuff some more, but don't overstuff (that's not as complicated as it sounds – use your best judgment). Line up the slip stitches of the head and the body, and using the long tail from the head, sew the head to the body using whip stitch – insert your needle through both loops of the head stitch, then both loops of the body stitch, and repeat. Using the long tails, sew on the arms and legs. Sew on the face.

uh oh, i wish i knew that before i made mr. beans the crocheted draft snake! i think i'd better go check on him . . .

Thanita
wrote

on May 23, 2006 12:41 PM

I love it! The instructions seem simple enough (I say that now but I haven't even started!). Thanks for putting pictures for us to follow along with!

suebee
wrote

on Jun 12, 2006 11:26 PM

Please do yourself a favor and click the above link to Gourmet Amigurumi and visit the flickr gallery. You will be treated to the most imaginitive, beautifully-crafted and artful aminagurimi of Beth Doherty. Page after page of delightful bliss that is sure to inspire those who aspire to create more original works.

Shelley
wrote

on Jun 19, 2006 7:54 PM

Wow. I am going to put these little guys around for some cheerful atmosphere. When I put some Wild Things dolls in the office it cheered people up to play with them. I always found them in weird places doing different things, or in different places doing weird things. I'm going to make a batch of these and see what happens. Perfect stocking stuffers and little hiding-in-the-desk-drawer presents for a friend to find.

Shelley

Anonymous
wrote

on Jul 23, 2006 7:15 PM

Any advice on where to start for a total crochet beginner? Books, dvds, websites etc....I love Amigurumi and want to get stuck in...

Crafty Alien
wrote

on Jul 30, 2006 4:21 PM

I'm not a crocheter and the lack of knitted amigurumi patterns inspired me to create my own. Hopefully they'll be more knitted ones for the rest of us.

Craftybernie
wrote

on Aug 2, 2006 12:00 PM

Just a note to say thanks for posting these instructions. I've only recently started to crochet and I've been admiring these gorgeous little characters for a while. I've just finished all the body parts.

All that's left to do is to pad him out and embellish him.

It's been such an easy process so far and the possibilities are endless. I imagine the only difficulty is to stop making them! They're addictive!

Thanks again....Bernie

Justin
wrote

on Mar 1, 2007 8:43 PM

I was just wondering can anybody elaborate more on Round 1 in the Head stage because when I try to make 6 sc in the adjustable hoop they always come out funky thanks in advanced!

The abbreviation for "2 sc together" is sc2tog. It means to make one decrease by doing the following: Insert your hook in the next stitch and pull up a loop, insert your hook in the stitch after that and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw the yarn through all three loops. To "sc in each of the next 3 sts," make a single crochet stitch in each of the next three stitches.

I am notsure if this blog is stil current. But I am going to make something for a "doggy art" show to benefit our new dog park - can be mde by or about dogs. I thought a fanciful crochet dog would be great -Can anyone point me to the basic patterns, that I can then embellish for his project. Thanks

I just love this pattern so far! I've done the head and body for my dude and it's been pretty easy for someone like me that has hardly done ANY crocheting. I probably did a hat about 12 years ago and that's been it. I love the ability to customize the pattern to anything I want it to be. Thank you so much for providing it for us all to try out! I think I've found a new hobby!

so i acquired some yarn yesterday planning on making an amigurumi tiger without even having a pattern. i've come to find out there's absolutely no patterns for tigers on the interweb so im going tp use this pattern fo the head body arms and legs and try to work out a tail n my own. wish me maerd.

The easiest way to size it up is to use thicker yarn. The less-easier-but-still-easy way is to work more increase rounds, then adjust the number of work-even and the number of decrease rounds to balance out that change.

You will be treated to the most imaginitive, beautifully-crafted and artful aminagurimi of Beth Doherty. Page after page of delightful bliss that is sure to inspire those tesking who aspire to create more original works.

I am going to put these little guys around for some cheerful atmosphere. When I put some Wild Things dolls in the office it cheered people up to play with them. mcts testking I always found them in weird places doing different things, or in different places doing weird things. I'm going to make a batch of these and see what happens. pmp dumps Perfect stocking stuffers and little hiding-in-the-desk-drawer presents for a friend to find.

You evidence be treated to the mass imaginitive, beautifully-crafted and artful aminagurimi of Beth Doherty. Page after page of delightful bliss that is sure to inspire those tesking who aspire to create more original works.